32:A Friend

"And with that sorted. How did your love with Arnos-chan begin, Misha-chan?" Izabela asked, stars shining in her eyes.

"...…The beginning of our love....?" Misha asked, puzzled.

"How did you meet? Who called out to whom? Who made the first contact?" Izabela asked with such enthusiasm that Rimuru thought she was the kid instead of Anos. 'Or is it that she likes to gossip about love?' Rimuru thought internally while maintaining the sweet smile she was giving Anos.

"...…I was spoken to by Arnos...," Misha said, remembering their meeting in the morning.

"Arnos-chan calling out to girls. That womanizer!" Izabela said excitedly while whistling *Hyuu-hyuu*, which somehow brought Anos back to Earth from his mushroom gratin trance.

After looking around and remembering his situation, he mumbled, "Good grief," in a low voice. Well, everyone was engrossed in the love story to care for him anyway.

"And, and what did Arnos-chan say next?"

Misha looked down, thinking, and said, "...….We're both troubled, it seems...."

"Kyaaaaaaa! Very good!! Arnos-chan, if girls are told such a thing, they will fall in one shot." Izabela exclaimed while her husband nodded his head like a proud father. 'How is that cool? Trying to talk to my mother at the moment seems pointless. Let's look for another opening. Besides, there's still some gratin left. I have to eat it while it's still hot. Arghh, this is hard. I have to choose between my delicious dinner or my dignity,' Anos thought while deciding what to do.

Rimuru, whose smile was beginning to grow wider, thought, 'Well damn, this is the best vacation ever.'

"And? What was your answer, Misha-chan?"

".....Nn.....," Misha just gave her usual answer, but Izabela seemed to hear something different.

"Mouuuuu! Telepathy! Perfect affinity right from the beginning! Oh, is this what people call fated love..."

As Izabela began to ramble more about love, Anos finally finished his meal. He was about to talk some sense into his mother when he heard the most ridiculous thing in his entire existence.

"Hey hey, Misha-chan, did you two kiss yet? Come on, tell me, tell me. I won't tell anyone," Izabela said as she came near Misha, invading her personal space.

"No," came an immediate response from Misha, who was either disturbed by Izabela's invasion of her personal space or something else.

"I see, I see. You would only do that when you two marry. Oh, how romantic. Oh, in the name of the founding ancestor, I truly wish this couple would have your blessing."

There was a silence after her words until someone broke it with full-blown laughter. Anos, who was motionless, thought, 'Mother, why is your brain not working today? If Misha said that we didn't kiss in such a hurry, isn't that too suspicious for a couple? And why the hell are you using my name for such nonsense here?'

---

~After a nice meal~

"Here, I have some extra for you to eat at home, Misha," Izabela said as she handed over a basket to Misha, who was leaving.

"Thank you," Misha said softly as she bowed to Anos's mother.

"Oh, come on, don't be like that. Just remember to visit us more often. I still have so much more to talk to you about. And if we are lucky, I might even be able to show you the picture book of Anos's childhood."

While Misha just nodded to Izabela's comments, another interesting conversation was going on with Anos and his father.

"Son, I know you must be very excited to have some time with your girlfriend, but for today, don't go anywhere. It is already too late, and these kinds of arrangements must be done without any rush. So no going on detours so you can spend more time together," Gusta said, giving his fatherly advice under Anos's deadpan gaze.

"Father, how many times do I have to tell you that I will not go on any detours or any other places? Hell, I won't even be gone for a long time. So please, don't add unnecessary misunderstandings. What Mother caused is already enough."

"I know, Anos. Since you are a grown man now, me and your mother won't butt into your affairs, but remember, everything is tricky in a relationship," Gusta said, totally misunderstanding Anos's reasoning.

Anos just sighed while rubbing his forehead, suppressing the headache he had.

After a while, both parents finally let the duo leave. Rimuru looked at their departing figures and mumbled, "Since they are going in the same direction, he should be able to handle those guys…. Sigh, I really forgot how troublesome nobles can be." Saying so, she went inside the house to wash the remaining dishes.

---

~With Anos and Misha~

As soon as they started their journey, both were quiet. It was pretty awkward for both since they had only met each other today. Sighing, Anos broke the awkward atmosphere by speaking first. "Well, Misha, I'm sorry about my parents' misunderstanding. I hope you don't take their antics to heart."

Misha shook her pretty head, saying, "No, don't worry about it. I had fun too," with a small smile on her face.

Seeing her smile sincerely, Anos scratched his face and said, "Well, when I go back, I will tell my parents that you are my comrade."

"Comrade?" Misha asked curiously.

Anos nodded and continued, "Yeah, I believe in this era they refer to it as a friend, yes, friend."

"A friend," Misha repeated, smiling more while bringing her hands to her chest, which had at some point begun to beat a little faster.

Seeing Misha's smile for considering her a friend, Anos smiled to himself and closed his eyes to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere they had created.

But that peace was broken by the sound of walls magically building themselves, completely surrounding them. The walls began to shape into an arena with four blocked entrances.

While Anos looked at this with an eyebrow raised, he heard the sound of footsteps. Then, from one of the entrances came a familiar person with his usual cocky attitude. "Hey hey, what do we have here, a mere half-breed that doesn't know the true meaning of defying royalty."

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